Adam Smith used the concept of the Invisible Hand to explain how goods and services became available in a market economy, without any central directing force but economics can’t be applied to art. That would be crass. Art can never be reduced to the commercial. There has to be an intelligence behind all the entertainment and art in San Miguel. Someone has to be co-ordinating the range from street performers to opera singers and actors. There has to be a force, not unlike the Wizard of Oz, that is responsible for keeping the entertainment coming to San Miguel each and every day of the year.

And there is the – Ringmaster of San Miguel

Shadow of the Ringmaster

The Ringmaster of San Miguel is so busy, every day, that all we ever see of them is their Shadow moving quickly to actualize art in San Miguel.

The Shadow and the Bag

The Shadow

The Ringmaster

The unknown, unnamed Ringmaster is responsible for introducing all the acts that appear in San Miguel and will, on occasion guide, the audience through entertainment experience. In particular, they start the San Miguel Clap. This is a polite, one hand in the palm clap that accompanies every single public action in San Miguel. It is totally unrelated to the quality of the act nor the appropriateness of the act. Everyone gets a clap in San Miguel – even language instructors.

The Ringmaster is the hardest working person in San Miguel. Some much art so little time. The goal of the Ringmaster is to the denizens of San Miguel so busy with the Arts that they don’t realize where they are.

This list was found in the Jardin and only gives a hint of the Art Fun planned for San Miguel. Harry’s is a good place to see some of this.